Give and Take--the first insider's guide to the world of corporate philanthropy-will help all foundation staff members in their efforts to give wisely and well. A candid look at the factors that make for a successful giving program, Give and Take also offers invaluable advice to nonprofit executives, development staff, trustees, and volunteers who rely on private fundraising for essential support. Reynold Levy, formerly an executive director of New York's renowned 92nd Street Y and president of the AT&T Foundation and currently the president and CEO of the International Rescue Committee and chairman of the board of the Nathan Cummings Foundation, draws on his own experience as both donor and solicitor in this engaging handbook. The benefits, responsibilities-and challenges-facing today's philanthropists are revealed here with flair and conviction. Levy lays out clear guidelines and establishes benchmark principles for building world-class foundations. With a keen awareness of the practical realities of business, he argues that successful philanthropic programs are rooted in both business values and business interests. Corporate philanthropy, says Levy, must contribute meaningfully to business success as it fulfills social obligations. Levy bolsters his position with colorful anecdotes that reveal how many leading companies-including AT&T, Levi-Strauss, IBM, and Dayton-Hudson-have sponsored innovative philanthropic activities that benefit their employees, customers, and shareholders as well as humanitarian causes. Levy then turns the tables and views corporate giving from the beneficiary's perspective. He divulges insider strategies and tactics for effectively soliciting funds from today's corporate executives. He answers some of the key questions of aspiring grantees as he helps guide hopeful beneficiaries through every stage of the fundraising process. Levy has seen firsthand the power of corporate philanthropy to advance business goals while improving our communities and enriching our personal lives. His unparalleled experience in and outside of foundations inform every aspect of this guide to doing good and asking well. Give and Take is a useful and thought-provoking resource for everyone who cares about philanthropy, from managers in company foundations to non profit executives, development directors, trustees, and volunteers.

Product Description

From Library Journal

The author served as president of the AT&T Foundation for 12 years, helping to shape its philanthropy program and seeing it through political crises such as the Planned Parenthood uproar of 1991. With wisdom and experience, he shares his view of philanthropy in the context of modern business realities and discusses insider "trade secrets." Part 1 covers "the art and craft" of corporate contributions, Part 2 discusses the current political climate affecting philanthropy, Part 3 includes views from some beneficiaries, and Part 4 outlines emerging trends such as globalization and competition. A leader in the field, Levy has made an important contribution with this combination of philosophical wisdom and practical advice. As philanthropy is currently undergoing a transformation in the United States, this book is highly recommended for large collections.ALaura E. Lipton, Pacific Northwest Grantmakers Forum, Seattle Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Levy, an experienced manager of corporate foundations as well as nonprofit organizations, provides a guide for philanthropists and those who rely on them. His goal is to reveal the underlying dynamics of philanthropy and the sources of its appeal, given the realities of today's business environment. He also aims to help those who solicit funds to be more effective in their efforts with corporations and urges corporations to give wisely and well. The author begins by describing the fundamentals of corporate philanthropy and then analyzes in detail some of its operations, such as general organization and politics. The third section offers advice to those seeking philanthropic support from corporations, and finally Levy gives his view of the future of corporate philanthropy. He makes a remarkably optimistic case for the state of corporate philanthropy, in spite of a commonly held view that corporate mergers are causing a decline in funding, as is the recent phenomenon of companies exacting some tangible payback for their charitable dollars. Mary Whaley